Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: December 4th to 7th, 1862-- Alabama Cruising

DECEMBER 4TH

Four Union ships engaged Confederate batteries at Port Royal, Virginia for an hour.

Rear Admiral Farragut wrote that keeping his ships supplied with coal and provisions "takes all my energies."  His fleet had captured or destroyed all the blockade-runners running from Havana or Nassau to his coast except the Cuba and Alice.  "I have all the coast except Mobile Bay, and am ready to take that the moment I get troops."

DECEMBER 5TH

Boats from two Union ships capture and destroy several fine boats and brought back two from the Severn River in Maryland.  The captain of one claimed he was a Union man, but they thought he was endeavoring "to carry water on both shoulders."  Meaning he worked for both sides.

CSS Alabama captured and released on bond, the schooner Union off Haiti.


DECEMBER 7TH

CSS Alabama captured the California steamer Ariel off coast of Cuba with 700 passengers on board, including 150 Marines.

Old B-Runner

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